Category Archives: Vascular Surgery

PUBLISHED: Femoral Endarterectomy for Severe Peripheral Arterial Disease

Femoral Endarterectomy for Severe Peripheral Arterial Disease
Katherine L. Morrow, MD; Anahita Dua, MD, MS, MBA, FACS
Massachusetts General Hospital

This case describes an 85-year-old gentleman with significant peripheral arterial disease and lifestyle-limiting claudication who had previously undergone an unsuccessful attempt at endovascular treatment of his significant right common femoral artery stenosis.

A right common femoral endarterectomy was performed to remove this patient’s significant plaque burden. Postoperatively, the patient noted significant improvement in his right lower extremity claudication, and his postoperative pulse volume recordings showed improved arterial inflow.

PUBLISHED: Creation Of A Radial-Cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula

Creation of a Radial-Cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula
Nahel Elias, MD FACS
Surgical Director
Kidney Transplantation
Massachusetts General Hospital

AV fistulas provide the crucial vascular access required for patients receiving hemodialysis, a life-saving procedure for end-stage renal disease. Such patients have irreversible kidney damage and must receive a new kidney. While waiting, patients rely on hemodialysis to filter their blood to stay alive, and AV fistulas provide the sustainable vascular access required for hemodialysis. 

Continue reading PUBLISHED: Creation Of A Radial-Cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula

PREPRINT RELEASE: Carotid Endarterectomy (Cadaver)


Carotid Endarterectomy (Cadaver)
Harvard Medical School

Samuel Schwartz, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital

Laura Boitano, MD
Resident Physician
Massachusetts General Hospital

In this case, Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Boitano demonstrate a carotid endarterectomy on a cadaver at Harvard Medical School.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Submandibular Approach to the Mandible (Cadaver)


Submandibular Approach to the Mandible (Cadaver)
Harvard Medical School

R. John Tannyhill, III, MD, DDS, FACS
Instructor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School

Mark Rowan, MD, DDS
Resident Physician
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School

This case presents a cadaveric demonstration of the submandibular approach to the mandible, which can be used in cases involving osteomyelitis, the management of fractures, or pathology of the mandible or submandibular gland.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava: Resection and Reconstruction

Leiomyosarcoma of the Inferior Vena Cava: Resection and Reconstruction
Massachusetts General Hospital
Madhukar S. Patel, MD, MBA, ScM

Department of Surgery, MGH
Jahan Mohebali, MD, MPH
Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, MGH
Parsia A. Vagefi, MD, FACS
Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, MGH
Alex B. Haynes, MD, MPH, FACS
Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, MGH

A woman presented with back pain, and when biopsied, she was found to have an inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma - specifically involving the infrahepatic vena cava, the origin of the left renal vein, and the hilum of the right kidney. After undergoing preoperative proton beam radiation, the patient has her tumor resected en bloc by Dr. Vagefi and Dr. Haynes. They will also reconstruct the vena cava with a ringed synthetic graft covered by an omental pedicle flap.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair – Part 2

0109b-screenshotThoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair – Part 2
Virendra I. Patel, MD, MPH
Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Patel continues repairs on this thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in Part 2 of this two part series. Watch as he works against the clock during visceral ischemia time until blood flow from the graft is restored to all the dependent organs! (Pre-print, Part 2 of 2).

This article follows a previously released Part 1.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair – Part 1

0109AThoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair – Part 1
Virendra I. Patel, MD, MPH
Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital

Watch Dr. Patel as he performs a Type 1 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with distal aortic perfusion through an atriofemoral bypass circuit. (Pre-print, Part 1 of 2).